Wire-stretcher.



J. H.. LEWIS.

WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION IILED APB.15, 1910.

974,403, Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

awve/wtp'n JE- 116w JOHN H. LEWIS, OF MOUNT VERNON, WASHINGTON.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1910.

Application filed April 15, 1910. Serial No. 555,581.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mount Vernon, in the county of Skagit and State ofWashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for stretching wire fences, and hasfor its object to provide a device of this character which will comprisea small number of parts, and which may be manufactured at a low costfrom stock material.

Another object is to provide such a device which may be used forstretching wire in opposite directions from a given point.

A further object is to provide an efficient means for securing thedevice upon a post.

Another object is to provide such a device which will be light in Wei htand will 00- cupy a minimum amount 0 space.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, and it will be understood that changes in the specificstructure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claimswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings: Fi ure 1 is a horizontal sectional view throug thestretcher and post, Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof, and Fig. 3 is a sideView showing the device folded and out of use.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a post 1 upon which thepresent device is aplied, the device comprising essentially the rameplates 11 of which there are two of similar form each having the rearpivot ear 12, and the forward car 13 somewhat lon er than the one 12.The plates 11 are provic ed with recesses 14 in their edges between theears 12 and 13, and adapted to allow the partial access of the posttherein. Pivoted upon the cars 12 there is a foot plate 15 havingupwardly projecting ears 16 apertured and receiving a suitable bolt 16therethrough extended through the ears 12, the bolt carrying on itscentral portion between the ears 12 a washer block 17 and having pivotedon its opposite ends outwardly of the ears 16, a take-up yoke member 18,the opposite extremities of which are engaged upon the bolt, the bightportlon of wh ch carries a suitable spring 19 engaged with the innerextremity of a chain 20, the function of which will be subsequentlydescribed.

It will be noted that the cars 16 of the plate 15 are dis osed adjacentits center. Similarly pivote at the extremities of the cars 13, there isa similar foot plate 21, differing only in that the ears are disposedadjacent its front edge 21. On the bolt 22 by which this plate issecured to the cars 13, there is a suitable roller member 23, disposedbetween the ears 13 and adapted to support the chain passing into thestretcher, as will be subsequently indicated. If desired, a suitablefilling web flange or strip 24 may be interposed between the rearportions of the plates 11 to increase their rigidity and strengthen thedevice. The plates are secured together at their upper edges by means ofbolts 25, as shown, the one ad acent the rear edge thereof having asuitable roller 25' therearound adapted to guide the chain 20 in itsrearward movement from the stretcher under action of the sprin s andyoke, as will be subsequently describe Passing through the plates 11adjacent their forward ends, there is a suitable shaft 26, carryingcentrally thereof the sprocket 27 having the ratchet 28 on one sidethereof and engageable by a spring pressed pawl 29 having a laterallypro ecting pin 30 rojected through a slot 31 in the ad acentp ates 11.Pivoted on the opposite extremities of the shaft 26 are the furcations32 of an operating lever 33 having a socket 3 1 at its outer end adaptedto receive a suitable handle 35. Pivoted in the lever 33, there is asuitable spring pressed dog 36, the outer end of which rests against theteeth of the sprocket 27, and is arranged to travel thereover whenrotated, and also to allow passage of the chain 20 thereunder. The chain20 passes inwardly under the roller 25 over the sprocket 27 between thefurcations of the lever 33 and outwardly past the.end portion of theframe over the roller 23, carrying at its extremity a wire clamp 38 ofany suitable construction. Engaged upon the plates 15 and 21, there areshort lengths of chains carried thereon by means of a hook 39, thechains 40 having at their extremities an anchor hook 41 adapted to bedriven in the surface of a post.

In use, the device is presented against the side of a post with theplates 15 and 21 seated flat thereagainst as shown, after which thechains 40 are adjusted to a proper length and the hook 41 carriedthereby driven into the post with the chains fully extended, to hold thedevice securely upon the post. The grip member 38 is then engaged withthe wire and the lever 33 oscillated, the dog 56 thus rotating thesprocket 27 and taking up the chain in such a way as to stretch thewire. The slack of the chain 20 is taken up by means of the spring 19whereby it is prevented from clogging at the back of the device andchecking its operation. If it is desired to stretch wire under tensionfrom an opposite direction to that first considered, it is simplynecessary to turn the device over, and manipulate it in a similarmanner. When not in use, the spring 19 will draw a large part of thechain inwardly over the sprocket 27, after which the yoke member 18 maybe folded in against the lever 33 the chain being carried therewith, asillustrated in Fig. 5. The device thus occupies a minimum amount ofspace when not in use.

It willbe seen from the foregoing that the parts described may all bemanufactured in an extremely simple manner, and the device is adapted tobe sold at a very low cost. The operation also may be effected by theaverage farm hand without special training.

hat is claimed is: a V

1. A device of the class described comprising two oblong frame plates ofsimilar shapes, post engaging means carried at the opposite endsthereof, a shaft extended through the plates, a sprocket revolublethereon between the plates, a ratchet carried by the sprocket and a pawlengaging the ratchet to prevent rotation of the sprocket in onedirection, an operating lever bifurcated and having the extremities ofits furcations pivoted upon the shaft outwardly of the plates, a chaincarried upon the sprocket, a

. wire gripping member carried at its outer end, a pawl carried betweenthe furcations of the lever and adapted to engage the teeth of thesprocket for rotation of. the sprocket and taking up of the chain, andresilient means engaged with the inner end of the chain for take upthereof.

2. A device of the class described comprising a frame, post engagingmeans carried thereby, a sprocket revoluble therein, a ratchet carriedby the sprocket, a pawl engaging the ratchetrto prevent rotation of thesprocket in one direction, a chain carried upon the sprocket, anoperating lever p1voted acqacent the sprocket, a pawl carried JOHN H.LEWIS. \Vitnesses J. P. Honsnn, GERTRUDE GAGE.

